DEBRA ANN – Himalayan Children’s Fund
The Director of our U.S. foundation, Himalayan Children’s Fund (HCF), Debra Ann Robinson-Menzies,, was back home this month, staying at the school as she does every year during her visits to Rinpoche’s institutions in Nepal (10) and India (2).
Debra Ann has been tirelessly helping with our school and other Thrangu Rinpoche’s institutions, supporting the education, welfare, and well-being of so many children from the remote parts of Nepal. We are deeply grateful for her unwavering dedication, kindness, and calm demeanor, as well as her hardworking nature, which inspires us all.
HCF is organizing a matching fund campaign for SMD: “An anonymous donor has kindly offered HCF a conditioned grant of $20,000.00 for the support of Shree Mangal Dvip Boarding School. Every donation made for this purpose will be matched dollar for dollar ~ up to $20,000.00.”
Learn more on the HCF website: http://www.
L-R: Lopen Palden Tashi, Lopen Tsewang Topgyal, Greg, our Principal, Shirley, Lucy, Lakshman Lama & Ram Lama, our Registrar, Niraj Chitrakar.
Our first tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kathmandu University (KU)
Big news! Lucy Gowdie (Head of School) and Greg Vlasek (Chair of the Board) visited us again from the Inter-Comunity School Zurich as part of The Saathi Project, a collaborative initiative between SMD and ICS. We have officially adopted them into the SMD family. Together, Lucy, Greg and SMD admin visited Kathmandu University and worked out our first tripartite MOU (memorandum of understanding) which will enable SMD graduates to garner some support to study at KU.
* Note: Saathi is friend in Nepali
Photo collage from the last day of the Tsedrup Puja at Namo Buddha, L-R: Zuri Rinpoche giving blessings, and our monks performing the Lama (Cham) Dance.
Annual Tsedrup Puja and Lha Bab Duchen
Our Teachers and Students witnessing the lama dance.
The annual Long-Life Prayer began in November at Thrangu Monastery in Namo Buddha. Thrangu Rinpoche’s nuns, monks, and lay disciples gathered from all over the world to make aspirations for the long life of our gurus and for world peace. Venerable Zuri Rinpoche kindly officiated the puja, and as Rinpoche explained, the practice and text originated from Thrangu Monastery in Tibet. Rinpoche encouraged the entire Thrangu family to continue the activities entrusted to each of us. Zuri Tulku’s shyabi (attendant) is our own Lama Karma Tsering, who served as Principal at SMD years ago.
The last day of the Tsedrup Puja coincided with Lha Bab Duchen, one of the most auspicious days in the Buddhist calendar, marking the Buddha’s descent from Tushita. Many devotees, including SMD students from Grades 8 to 12, converged on Namo Buddha to receive the Amitayus empowerment, receive blessings from Kyabje Zuri Rinpoche, and witness the Lama (cham) Dance performed with great devotion and skill by the monks of Thrangu Monastery.
L-R: Ashok Tamang, Nyima Dorje, and Sangey Lama in front of the mural they painted.
Our Graduates Painted Cultural Murals at SMD
An eye-catching and informative mural in our driveway welcomes people to SMD, a brainstorm of our Principal, Dr. Karma Sangbo. Our talented graduates, Nyima Dorje, Ashok Tamang, Tamdin Tsering, and Sangye Lama and few others, have painted beautiful cultural murals on the walls leading to our main gate. Their hard work and skill bring the stunning art to life, and we’re very proud of what they’ve created.
You can help, too! If you are coming to Nepal, please let us know.
Contact Shirley at himalayanchildren@gmail.com
Nowadays, dengue is a year-round risk. A few SMD people contracted it this year (we believe, off-campus). If you are coming to Nepal, please bring kid-safe mosquito repellent.
We have lots of books at the Vancouver Monastery, donated by a teacher friend, just waiting to be picked up. If you could bring 3 or 4, that would be wonderful. Please contact Lama Tsering Sangpo at the monastery: Tel: +1 (778) 297-6010.
Some of our students with their certificates during the marathon event.
Fourteen of our students participated in the marathon ‘Re-Run Fun Run,’ held in Patan
On November 9, fourteen students from our school, including our visitor Noah, participated in the 16th Kathmandu Marathon with the theme ‘Re-Run Fun Run,’ held in Patan. Everyone chose to run the 5 km race, and our student Ang Lhakpa Sherpa placed 3rd!
Here is what the students had to say: “It has been three years since I started running. To share about the Re-Run Fun Run Marathon, I took part in the 5KM and was able to secure the third position. This is my third time in a 5KM Run. We all did our best and enjoyed the opportunity. I would also like to remind everyone to be physically active and to often run.” – Ang Lhakpa Sherpa, Grade10
“It’s my second time racing in a marathon. At first I felt Little bit nervous because there were a lot of unknown people. However, I stopped myself feeling that way by motivating myself that “I can do this”. It went as I expected it. Even though I couldn’t secure any position I am proud of myself for this great achievement of participation.” – Tenzin Wangmo Gurung, Grade 8
“For me, Marathon is all about motivation that you give to yourself. While running, I kept motivating myself and eventually it wasn’t that hard to get to the finish point. It was a challenge for myself. This was my very first Marathon race and I hope there will be a next one again in which I will perform better.” – Kunsang Tsomo, Grade10
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Somewhere written on the board in our director’s office: “Shree Mangal Dvip Boarding School – Where even the heaviest heart feels lighter”